Mattress structure



Sept. 30, 1958 M. KOENIGSBERG I 2,853,721

MATTRESS STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 30, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept` 30, 1958M. KoENlGsBEYRG l 2,853,721

MATTRESS STRUCTURE Filed sept. 5o, 1955 :s sheets-sheet 2 I N V E14]TOR. Ma 2a/@5&9

Sept. 30, 1958 M. KoENlGsBERG 2,853,721

MATTRESS STRUCTURE v Filed Sept. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 l l 134 f/-IZ f 155 gram,

United States Patent Q MATTRESS STRUCTURE Max Koenigsberg, HighlandPark, Ill.,- assignor to The Englander Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1955, Serial No.537,729

' s claims. (ci. 5 351) The present invention relates to a novel cushionstructure and more particularly to a novel spring structure formattresses or box spring units or the like.

In many instances it is desirable to provide spring mattresses or boxspring units or the like which are constructed so that certain portionsof the mattress may yield relatively independently of other portions ofthe mattress.

- For example, it may be desirable to have marginal portions ofmattresses used on hospital beds yielded independently of centerportions of the mattresses since doctors, nurses, or visitors often siton the marginal portions of such mattresses, and many mattressesheretofore in general use tend to sag toward the person sitting on themargin thereof in a manner which may cause discomfort to a patient lyingon the mattress. Also, in double mattresses it is desirable to constructthe mattress so that a person lying on one side thereof will not causethe entire mattress to sag to the discomfort of a person lying on theother side.

Various suggestions have heretofore been made for providing mattressstructures or the like having more or less independently operatingsprings in an attempt to accomplish the results mentioned above, andwhile such proposed structures have met with varying degrees of successthey are usually relatively expensive.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novelmattress structure or the like which is constructed so that springs incertain portions thereof func- A tions substantially independently ofsprings and other portions thereof and which at the same time may beeconomically manufactured.

A more specific object of the present invention is t provide a novelreversible coil spring mattress or the like having the characteristicsset forth in the preceding paragraph.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description and the accompanying drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mattress structure embodying thefeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe novel mattress structure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the novel mattress structure;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken yalong the line 4-4 in Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a double mattress embodying the modified formof the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an end View of the mattress structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line7-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View showing the manner ofsupporting certain of the coil springs in the mattress structure;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in Fig.8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing another modified form of the presentinvention;

firice Fig. 11 is an end view of the mattress structure shown in Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 12-12in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing a portion of thestructure for supporting certain of the springs; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 14--14 in Fig.13.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings Wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals throughout the various gures, a mattressstructure incorporating the novel features of the present inventionshown in Figs. 1-4. The mattress 20 comprises spring means 22 describedin detail below which is covered by suitable padding 24 and ticking 26in a known manner.

In accordance with the present invention the spring means 22 isconstructed so that the peripheral margin of the mattress will yield andfunction substantially independently of central portions of themattress. More specifically, the spring means 22 is provided with aperipheral border of coil springs 28 which may be formed so as to havean hour glass shape as shown in Fig. 3.

The coil springs 28 are retained in spaced relationship and inlongitudinally and transversely extending rows as shown in Fig. 2 bymeans of metal strips 30 which are interconnected with each of thesprings as shown best in Figs. 8 and 9. More particularly each of thecoil springs 28 comprises a pair of substantially abutting centrallylocated coils 32 and 34, and the metal strip is inserted between andclamped by the coils 32 and 34 of each coil spring. In addition thestrips 30 are provided with a series of spaced tabs 36 each of whichprojects through the coil 32 of one of the springs 28 so as to precludeshifting of the springs longitudinally of the strips. Upper and lowerborder wires 38 and 40 are connected with opposite end coils of theSprings 28 by means of clips 42 or the like.

While springs such as the springs 28 which are interconnected bycentrally located strips such as the strips 30 promote independentyielding of the individual springs, the structure provided thereby isrelatively expensive. The central portion of the spring means is made ofmore economical construction and is supported so as to functionsubstantially independently of the -border springs. As shown in thedrawings the center section of the spring means comprises a plurality ofrows of coil springs 44 which may be of any known construction. Oppositeend coils of each of the springs 44 are interconnected with the endcoils of adjacent springs 44 by means of small springs, wires, clips orany other suitable device which may be rapidly and easily applied so asto reduce manufacturing cost. In the particular embodiment shown for thepurpose of illustrating the present invention diagonally arranged smallsprings 46 are provided for interconnecting the end coils of the springs44. The section of the mattress comprising the springs 44 is surroundedby upper and lower border wires 48 and 50 which are secured to oppositeend coils of the outermost springs 44 by clips 51 or the like. As shownthus in Figs. 2 and 4 the central spring section is interconnected withthe peripheral spring section only at the corners of the mattressstructure so that the two spring means sections functions substantiallyand independently of each other. Thus, at each corner of the mattressstructure, the internal border wires 48 and 50 are interconnected withopposite end coils of the corner springs 28 by small springs 52, 54 and56 or the like. A

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is shown a mattress structure 60 embodying amodified form of the present invention, which mattress structure is adouble mattress and is constructed so as to provide two substantiallyindependently yieldable sleeping sections. The mattress structure 6i)`is provided with a `border spring section which includes a plurality ofsprings 62 similar to the above described springs'44, .In additionopposite sleepingsections.ofthe mattress are separated Iby a centrallydisposed irow/ofthe springs 62. The .,peripherally. Aarranged springs 62have opposite end coils thereof connected as byclips 64 or thelike-,toupper and lower outer border wires 66 and 68 and also to upper and lower.internal border wires 70 and 72. The central row of springs 62 havetheir opposite endacoils clipped or otherwise secured` to the internalborder wires 70 and 72.

As :mentioned above-the mattressoti .is provided with a pair of sleepingsections which .are l generally designated by the numerals 74 and 76,.and since :these sectionsare essentially identicalonly the ,section 74will be.. described in detail. The section 74includesV a pluralityoflongitudinally extendingrows of springs 78 which are'` identical tothe above described springs 28. The coil springs 78 are mounted on sheetmaterial or metal strips Si) which are identical to the abovedescribedstrips 30. In order to maintain the rows of rcoil springs 78 inpredetermined relationship with each other, a plurality'of transverselyextending sheet material or'metal strips. 52 is spaced along andinterconnected with thestripsy 813. The manner in which the strips 82are connected with the strips 'is shown best in Figs. 13 and 14. Morespecifically, each strip 82 is provided with offset: portions forreceiving each of the strips 80. Each of kthese odset portions includeslaterally extending ilange sectionsi` and 86 integrally joined byconnecting section. S8. :After a strip S0 has been disposed in an odsetportionaszshown in Figs. 13 and 14, a locking wire 90 is insertedthrough apertures in the flange sections 84 and 86 and :beneath thestrip 80 so that the strips 86 and 82 are securely retained in`assembled relationship.A As shown in Figs. 5

and 7 the endmost coil springs 78 of theV springsection 74 have theiropposite end coils interconnected;with4 the border wires 7l) and 72 bymeans ofrsmall springsw92g594, 96, 98, 160, 102, and 104. ,y Y

In Figs. l0, ll, and l2 there is shownadoublefmattress structure whichembodies a modied form of the present invention. In this embodimentopposite'sleeping sections 112 and 114 of themattress are .moreeconomically formed by constructing them from a plurality of rows ofcoil springs 116 which may be identicalto the above described coilsprings 44. The coil springs-116 are interconnected at their oppositeends by suitable means such as smalldiagonally disposed springs 118 orother similar devices. Upper and lowerborder -wires 121) and 122 are`secured to the peripherally disposed springs 116 by clips 124 or thelike. ln addition upper `internal border wire sections 125 and 128,1andinternal lower border wire sections 13d-and 132 extend along theinnermost longitudinally extending row of springs 116 in each of thesections 1172 and 114 and laresecuredto the springs by additional clips124. The springscctions 112 and 114 arel separated by one or more rowsof coil springs-134 which are identical to the above described springs23 and which are mounted on a strip `136 identical to the abovedescribed strip 3d. The endmostsprings 134 are respectively clipped orotherwisesecuredfto opposite end portions of the border wires and 122.

From the above description it is seen that the present invention hasprovided novel mattress structures or the like fully capable ofsatisfying the objects heretoforeset forth. More specifically -it isseen that the present invention has provided mattress structuresr ofrelatively economical construction while at the saine timehaving certainsections which are yieldably substantially independently of othersections, 1t will be appreciated that the mattresses constructed inaccordance with thislinvention may be reversed so that either side .maybe used since all the coil springs are fulll depth springs, and,I if

desired, the springs in certain of the sections may be ,formedso as tobe either stiffer or more yieldable than the coil springs in other ofthe sections. Alternately the springs in all sections may be formed sothat the mattress has a uniform softness or feel in all sectionsthereof.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenshown-land described herein, it is obvious that many structural detailsmay be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. A spring structure comprising a plurality of rows of wire coiledsprings of substantially equal height arranged .in groups, the springsin one of said groups having a pair of closely adjacent intermediatecoils, a sheet material strip gripped between said coils for retainingthe springs of said one group, means connecting opposite end coils ofadjacent springs in another of said groups, a plurality of intermediatesprings ofsaid one group between other springs adjacent opposite ends ofsaid one group being unconnected togthesprings ofV the other of said.groups, and means interconnecting onlysprings in said one group`adjacent opposite ends of said one group only with springs of other ofsaid groupsadjacent opposite endsof said other of said groups soasetopromote independent action of thejsprings in said one'. group withrespect tothe springs of the other of said groups.

y2. A spring structure, as denedfin claim l, which includes upper andlower border elements surrounding the other of` said groups and securedto opposite end coils of adjacentsprings in said other of said groups.

3. A spring structure, as defined in claim l, wherein the springs ofsaid yone group arearranged in longitudinallyextending rows at oppositesides of the other of said groups and provide opposite margins of thespring structure.

4. A spring structure, as dened in claim 2, wherein the springs of saidone group are arranged in longitudinally and transversely extending rowssurrounding said other of said groups Vand provide a peripheral marginof said spring structure, and said spring structure includingadditionalborder elements surrounding and secured to the springs of saidone group.

5. A spring structure comprising a plurality of .rows of Awire coiledsprings of substantially equal height, said springs being varranged in apair of groups anda third group disposed between and separating saidpair of groups, means interconnecting opposite-end coils of adjacentsprings in said pair of groups of said springs, each of said springs insaid third group including a pair of intermediate closely adjacentcoils, sheet materialstrip means disposed between and gripped by saidadjacent coils of the springs of said third group for supporting said.lastmentioned springs, a plurality of intermediate springs of saidthird group between other springs adjacent opposite ends of said thirdgroup being unconnected to the springs of said pair `of groups, meansinterconnecting substantially only springs in said third group adjacentopposite ends of said third group substantially onlywith springs in said,pair of groups adjacent opposite ends of said pair of groups so as topromote independent' action of the springs in each of said groups withrespect to the springs inthe other of said groups, and said llast namedmeans` including external border elements surrounding said groups ofsprings and secured to outermost coil springs insaidgroups.

6. A spring structure, as defined in claim 5, which includesinternalborder elements extending along and secured to the springs insaid pair of groups adjacent said third group.

7. A spring structure comprising a plurality of rows of wire coiledsprings of substantially equal height arrangedy in a pair of spacedgroups and a third group, each of said lsprings of said pair of groupshaving a pair of closely adjacent intermediate coils, eachof said pairof groups `including a'plurality of rows of springs, shee't'rnaterialstrip means disposed between and gripped by the asavai ladjacent coilsof the springs in each of said last mentioned rows for supporting thesprings in said pair of groups, said third group of springs beingarranged in rows around and between said pair of groups, meansconnecting opposite end coils of adjacent springs in said third group, aplurality of intermediate springs of each of said groups between othersprings adjacent opposite ends of said groups being unconnected to thesprings of the other of said groups, andy means connecting end coils ofonly ysubstantially endmost springs in said pair of groups with adjacentsprings in said third group, said means connecting opposite end coils ofadjacent springs in said third group including external border elementssurrounding said groups of springs and secured to outermost springs ofthe spring structure.

8. A spring structure, as defined in claim 7, wherein said meansconnecting opposite end coils of adjacent springs in said third groupincludes internal border elements extending along and secured to thesprings of said 5 third group disposed between said pair of groups.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 102,192,463 Wesley Mar. 5, 1940 2,681,457 Rymland June 22, 1954 2,698,444Piliero Jan. 4, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 144,323 Australia Nov. 11, 1951

